Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-31
THE UTE TROUBLES
eIEHRAL TERRY SUGGESTS a COURSE
OF ACTION.
The Presidents Instruction elegrsphic
Correspondence Betweeen Agent
Byrnes and the Departments.
[By telegraph o DO pispa.ch.l

patch of the 27tb, forwarded TO me
this morning, / suggest that under
sections 2147, 2l49, and 2l50 OF the Re-
vised Statutes Indian-Agent Byrnes
should be instructed TO remove from
his reservation all persons who may in
trude upon il, and that the military
commander at Fort Duchesne be in
siiucted TO give him all the assistance
that he may require. 1t is hardly to
be supposed that the civil and military
officers OF Colorado will forget that
State writs do not run beyond the
boundaries of State, but in the ex-
element of the situation this may be
overlooked. Major Randlett does not
seem to feel at all sure that the pun
ishment of the Indians will not con-
tinue. / think as precaution that the
orders which l suggest should be
given"
General Macfeeiy, acting Secretary
of War, submitted this telegram to the
President at the Cabinet meeting to-
day and the situation was carefully con-
sidered, resulting in telegraphic in
structions being sent this evening by
the President to Governor Adams, OF
Colorado, to confne the action Of the
civil authorities strictly within the
limits of the State, so as to prevent the
sheriff's posse from crossing the reser-
walton border. Should such precipi-
tate action be taken it is feared that q
disastrous outbreak of the reservation
Indians would follow, and everything
possible should be done to avoid such a
result.
A later dispatch from General Terry,
dated to-day, conveys the following
from Major Randlett, dated Fort Du.
chesne, August Goth "Colorow and
all his followers are now at Ouray
agency, fifty miles from Colorado, and
manifest disposition to remain on their
reservation. There is no more excite
ment among the Indians. The militia
and cowboys hold hundreds OF horses
and thousands OF sheep and goats. be-
longing to Colorow and Cbepita (Ou-
rays widow. This stock was grazing
on land claimed by the Indians as be-
longing TO their reservation, and where
they have been permitted by their agent
to live for years. Colorado settlers
have claimed locations there, and have
at last succeeded in driving the Indians
in. Colorow has not, in this trouble,
been on the var-path, and has made
his way to the reservation, avoiding hos
tilities as far as possible.
STATEMENT FROM AGENT BYRyE5.
WASHINGTON, August 30-Agent
Byrnes, of the Ouray agency. tele-
graphed under date of yesterday to In
dian. Commissioner Atkins as follows ::
"Colorow and his followers ere now
at the agency. They say they are not
mad and don't want to fight. They ex-
press willingness TO remain on the
reservation. Major Leslie, who fired on
these Indians on the border OF the
reservation, took possession and run
off about 800 head of the Indians
horses that were grazing on the
public lands near the reserva-
ton line. The horses were corralled
at Rangely, Col, by Major Leslie,
who informed lieutenant Burnett that
he would hold them until certain In
dams were delivered up to him. The
cowboys are breaking these horses for
their own use. Unless something is
quickly done these horses will not be
recovered. l therefore request that you
obtain authority from the War Depart
ment to allow Colonel Randlett, com
manding Fort Duchesne, to send de-
tail of men to bring these horses
on the reservation, as it would
be dangerous for the Indians to go,
as well as the agency employees, as they
would be roughly handled, being
known to be in sympathy with the In
dams. These Indians, when pursued
by Sheriff Kendall, were compelled to
abandon two thousand sheep, besides
large herds Of goats, which should also
be recovered with the horses. These
Indians, when attacked in Colorado,
were on a peaceful hunting expedition,
and they believed that they had right
under the treaty of 1874, and as I'M
derstood with them and the commits
sion, to hunt upon these lands III Colo
RADIO. Please send authority by tele-
graph"
COMMISSIONER ATKINs's INSTRUCTIONS.
Commissioner Atkins replied to
Agent Byrnes as follows : "You will,
pursuant to statute, remove from
your reservation all persons found
therein contrary to law and
prevent unlawful encroachments or en-
tries thereon for any purpose. The
military will be at once ordered to CO.
operate with you and aid you in en-
forcing these instructions. The civil
authorities of Colorado and those act
ing with them must proceed in the
manner prescribed by law for the en-
forcement of any process issued by the
State authority, and the Government
will, if the emergency arises, assist
them in orderly or lawful efforts to
sccure such process. You will also col
lect and restore to the Indians on the
reservation all the property abandoned
by them. Governor Adams has been
requested to deliver to you the horses
captured from the Indians and now
held by order of Major Leslie.
Acting Secretary OF the Interior Null
drow telegraphed Governor Adams, Of
Colorado, as follows: "Agent Byrnes,
of the Mintah and Ouray agency, re-
ports that Major Leslie has taken pos
session of 800 head of Indian horses
that were grazing on the public lands
near the line of the reservation that
he corralled them at Rangely, and
would hold them until certain Indians
were delivered up to him. L
am directed by the President to
request that you take ali pro-
per measures to deliver these
horses to Agent Byrnes. Agent
Byrnes will be directed TO take posses
sion OF the same for the Indians as
soon as arrangements are made for
their delivery. also respectfully ask
YOU to cooperate with Agent Byrnesin
collecting sheep and other property OF
these Indians with view of restoring
same to them on the reservation"
Copies of this correspondence we're
laid before the Secretary Of War, with
request that military assistance be
furnished Agent Byrnes to enable him
TO carry out his instructions.